[25.01] Thomas Digges and Giordano Bruno: 400 Years of Plurality of Worlds

C.J. Corbally (Vatican Observatory)

Some four hundred years ago was the fascinating era when
modern astronomy began. Its ``beginning" came with the
establishment of the heliocentric universe in people's
minds. From Nicolaus Copernicus, through Thomas Digges, to
Giordano Bruno we can trace how the Copernican system
progressed to the idea of an infinite universe, and how this
gave birth to a new tradition in thinking about the
plurality of worlds. While this progression does not appear
to have been by direct encounter between the principal
players, the vision of one was incorporated into the thought
of the next. Such progression in our understanding of the
universe continues today -- and presumably tomorrow.